Trouser waistband and pleat presser



Oct. 13, 1959 F. J. DE FlNO ETAL TROUSER WAISTBAND AND PLEAT PRESSER Filed June 16. 1955 44 42 Fig./

3 4 ms /4 ma -a6 /96 2/6 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

Frank James DeF/no Oct. 13, 1959 5 FINQ L 2,908,427

TROUSER WAISTBAND AND PLEAT PRESSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16. 1955 Mm, FMW

F. J. DE FlNO ET AL 2,908,427

TROUSER WAISTBAND AND PLEAT PRESSER Oct. 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 16. 1955 Fig Armand Arno/d De F ino INVENTORS. aoi...

United States Patent 2,908,427 TROUSER WAISTBAND AND PLEAT PRESSER Frank James De Fino and Armond Arnold De Fino, Des Moines, Iowa Application June 16, 1955, Serial No. 515,846 12 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) This invention relates generally to apparatus utilized in the pressing of trousers and is more particularly concerned with a trouser waistband and pleat pressing device.

The principal object in conformance with that set forth above is to provide a highly eflicient and readily useable trouser waistband and pleat presser including adjustable Waistband holding means, pleat pressing means, trouser leg holding means, and pressing steam exhausting means.

A further object of invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide trouser waistband and pleat pressing means which gives rise to the mass production of trouser pressing and which is readily useable by semi-skilled employees.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure -1 is a perspective view of the novel machine showing a pair of trousers in position thereon to be pressed;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the machine with the pleat pressure plates in a raised position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a still further enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of one of the pleater plates;

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the waistband elements;

Figure 8 is a top plan view with the pleater elements removed; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fluid lines for the steam and vacuum exhaust.

The pressing machine is indicated generally at 10 and includes a housing generally indicated at 12, a pleat pressing assembly 14, a waistband holding assembly 16, a trouser leg holding assembly 18, a motor and fan assembly 20, and a steam control assembly 22.

The housing 12 includes a base 24 including base rectangular forming structural elements 26, the rear portion 28 of the base extending upwardly and connected to a top member 30 in any suitable manner. The base includes a forward vertical portion 32 terminating in an upwardly and rearwardly directed plate portion 34 which terminates in a vertical plate portion 36. The housing also includes a pair of C-shaped side panels 38, the for ward edge 40 of the top member 30 has secured thereto a downwardly extending flange portion 42.

p The motor and fan assembly includes a centrifugal fan 44 which includes the outlet 46 directed downwardly into the housing 12, the fan having mounted thereon a driving motor 48 of any suitable character; the fan and 2,908,427 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 motor also including a suitable drive pulley and belt assembly 50. Extending between the side plates 38 are transverse reinforcing structural elements 52 and 54, and extending at right angles thereto is a support beam member 56 which rests on a flange portion 58 of the wall 36 and which is connected to the semi-circular flange 60 on its forward end. It will be noted that the various side and front panels are of suflicient gauge metal to support the pressing machine in themselves, and accordingly the necessity for internal reinforcing elements is cut down to a minimum. In addition, it will be noted as seen in Figure 1, for example, the semi-circular forward flange portion 42 of the machine will overlie the waist of a pair of trousers which are being pressed thereon, however, although the machine is illustrated as pressing a pair of trousers in a vertical position, it is believed readily apparent that this apparatus could also be in a horizontal position with side 28 lying on a support surface.

The waistband holder assembly 16 is actuated by a foot treadle 62 which includes an elongated lever 64 intermediately pivoted at 66 within the base, the element 64 having pivoted thereon at 68 an upwardly extending force transmitting lever 70. The force transmitting lever 70 has pivoted at 72 on its upper end one leg 74 of a bell crank 76 which is pivoted about a horizontal pivot element 78 which is supported on a bifurcated support element 80 carried on a bracket element 82 secured to the reinforcing element 54. The other arm 84 of the bell crank 76 is pivoted at 86 to a horizontal force transmitting lever 88 which is pivotally connected at 90 to a vertical element 92 carried on a support element 94 which includes secured thereto on its lower surface a pair of guide elements 96 and 98 which reciprocate on the beam member 56. As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the support element 94 includes a vertical pivot pin 100 extending therethrough which has pivotally supported thereon and movable with the support element 94 a pair of force transmitting levers 102 each of which have their opposite end pivoted on pivot pins 104 to a respective waistband expanding element 106, as seen in Figure 7. The waistband expanding elements 106 include angulated legs 108 and 110, the leg 108 being pivoted on the pivot pin 104, the juncture of the two legs being pivoted on a pivot pin 112 which is carried on a suitable transverse support element 144 which extends between the sides 38 of the housing. The legs include a downwardly angulated portion 116 which is secured to an intermediate portion of a curved waistband element 118. The waistband elements 118 include hinge portions 120 which are suitably pivoted to rear curved waistband portions 122, see Figure 4, which are secured to a curved plate 124 which is integrally connected to a flange 126 of the bracket 98, in any suitable manner.

Connected to the previously mentioned curved flange 60 is a vertical curved plate 128 which has overlapped thereon the free ends 130 of the waistband elements 106, as most clearly seen in Figure 4. It is to be understood that each of the free ends are disposed on opposite sides of the curved plate 128, and thus when the support element 94 is reciprocated upon the beam element 56 by virtue of application of pressure on the treadle 62, the force transmitting levers 102 are moved forwardly whereupon the arms 108 of the waistband elements are moved away from each other on the pivot 112 resulting in the arms 110 moving toward each other to slide the ends 130 of the .waistband elements over each other on the plate 128 to reduce the combined circumference of the curved waistband elements 122 and 118. This movement results in overcoming the inherent resiliency of rear waistband elements 122, and with the release of pressure on the treadle 62, these elements tend to enlarge the combined circumference of the waistband elements 118 and 122..

3 Thisaction may be aided by utilizing a spring 132 connected at one end 134 to the lever 64, the other end 136 being connected to a suitable portion of the base of the housing; Thus in actual'use the circumference of the waistband element is reduced by depressing the treadle 62, whereupon a pair of trousers are buttoned at the waist around the; waistband element and thereupon by releasing pressure on the. treadle 62, the waistband assembly 16 automatically expands to engage the inner side of the waistband of the trousers to support the same in the position: seen in Figs. 1 and 3. By this means, the assembly 16jcanbe automatically accommodated to trouser waistbands of difierent sizes.

Carried on the pivot pin 112 are a pair of radially extending support arms 138 which are connected to vertical support elements 140 of the pleater assembly 14. A pair of vertical support elements 142 are disposed on opposite sides of the pivot pin 112 being carried by the transverse element 114, and are connected together by a bight member 144. A pair of upper radial support arms 146 are carried on a vertical pivot 148, the forward portion thereof also'being connected in the vertical support element 140', as seen in Figure 5. The upper portion 30 of the housing includes a pair of curved slots 150, as seen in Figure 8, through which the vertical support elements 140. extend, it-being fairly evident that these elements may be pivoted on the radius defined by the pivot elements 112 and: 148v of the support arms 138 and 146, respectively. The purpose of this adjustment is obviously for accommodating the pleater assembly 14 relative to various sizes of trousers which is manually controlled as will later appear.

The lower portion of the vertical support element 140 has secured thereto by means of nut and bolt assemblies 152, the curved back portion of the pleat plate 154 which includes a forwardly curved back portion 156, see Figure 6, including a back portion 158 and top and bottom flanged edges 160. and 162, respectively, and the downwardly tapered side flange portions 164. The back portion 158 includes a lower vacuum outlet port 166, the purpose to be subsequently described, and the top flange portion includes extending therein a steam line nozzle.

168 which includes plural nozzle portions, see Figure 5, one. opening to the interior of member 156, this nozzle portion being identified by reference character 170, and the other nozzle portion 172 extending outside of the back 158 for the purpose of directing steam into the interior of the trousers. A U-shaped electric heating element 174 extends around the nozzle 170 being supported by bracket elements 176 on the back 158 of the pleater element, said heater element including ends 178 which extend out of the top flange 160 of said pleater element. A cover element 180 including a configuration similar to that of portion 156 of the pleater plate 154 extends over the flanges of the portion 156 thereof, said cover element including a suitable notched out portion 182 for accommodating therein a steam nozzle 168 and the ends 178 of the electric heater element, the cover element including a plurality of steam escape apertures 184' for permitting steam to be urged upon the pleats of apair of trousers being pressed. The upper end of the support elements 140 includes an angular portion 186 to which there is suitably secured by means of bolt assemblies 188, an overlying flange element 190. Extending from element 190 is a horizontal rod element 192 which terminates in an angular portion 194 (Fig. and to which. there is reciproeably mounted the pleat pressure plate assembly 196. The pleat pressure plate assembly 196 includes a tubular support element 198 having secured on one side thereof a suitable handle 200 and on the. opposite side a spring element 202 having secured thereon an angulated handle portion 204 which is secured. thereto by means of fasteners 206, said fasteners 206. also securing thereon a suitable bracket element 208 havingpivoted thereto on a pivot pin 210 by means of an car 212 a curved pressure plate 214, said curve being concave and conforming to the outer surface of the cover element of the pressure plate 154. The pressure plate may be covered with a suitable porous cloth as is customary in the pants pressing industry. The pressure plates 196, as seen in Figure 2, are normally in position against the upper curved portion 42 of the housing, and after the trousers 138 are positioned on the waistband assembly 16, the handles 200 and 204 are pulled together whereupon the pressure plate assembly 196 is slid down into position to press upon the trousers 138 in juxtaposition upon the presser plate 154..

The trouser leg securing assembly 18 includes an inner U-shaped member having the closed, end 218 (Figs. 1 and 4) and the parallel leg elements 220 for contacting the inner sides of the leg portions of trousers 138. Across the top side of the free ends of legs 220 is a support 222 and a similar support 224 extends across the bottom side thereof and parallel to support 222.. Assembly 18 as shown in Fig. 1 is supported by a strap element 216 which is mounted to the housing 10. The elements 222 and224 have end portions extending beyond the legs 220 of the U-shaped member and have pivoted on a pivot pin 226 clamping lever elements 228 which have a downwardly extending pin 230 thereon. A tension spring 232 is connected between the pin 230 and the gripping levers 228, the other end of the spring being connected to a suitable pin 234. on the support element 224. The pins 230 are connected on an angulated. rear portion 236 of the gripping levers, and thus the springs 232 urge the gripping levers 228 either toward the legs 2200f the U-shaped trouser gripping element, or away from said legs depending upon the location of the pin 230 relative to the pivot pin 236. Thus, the gripping levers 228' are normally left extending away from the legs 220, and after the pleat pressure plates.

have. been properly positioned, the gripping levers 228 are pivoted toward the legs 220 and the trousers are gripped into position whereupon the pressing operation will subsequently take place. In this position, levers 228 not only securely hold the trouser legs in position for the pressing of the pleats, but the clamping action of these levers is sufliciently tight that the upper portion of the trousers can be blown up like a bag for drying as will later appear, due to the fact that the clamping of the legs is a closure means forming a closed bottom for such bag-like formation.

A steam inlet line 238. is connected to a suitable steam generating source, not shown, the steam flowing as seen by the arrow in Figure 9, to a conventional steam accumulator 240 having a pair of suitable conduits 242 extending to the steam nozzles 168 as previously described being in the pleater plates 154, the accumulator including and extending therefrom a steam discharge line 244 which may include a conventional control valve 246 to complete the circuit of the steam flow. A branch conduit 245 extends into the fan 44 and communicates with steam coil (not shown) in opening 40 for the purpose of heating air blown into the seat of the trousers and legs for removing wrinkles therein, and a conventional hand-control assembly 248 is provided for controlling the ingress of steam into the steam nozzle 168. The heating element 174 is connected to a suitable electric conductor 250 in order to preheat the pleater plates 154v and superheat the steam contained in the pleater plates thus eliminating condensation.

Thus, actuation of the control assembly 248 results in the steam being urged into the pleater plates 154 through nozzle portion 17 t and steam is also urged out of nozzle portion 172 into the interior of thetrouser seat, and thus the pleats of'the trousersare pressed, as well as eliminating all unnecessary wrinkles'in the seat of the trousers, as well as thoseoccurring adjacent the waistband of the trousers.

Actuated by' a treadle 252' which includes a lever element 2,54 pivoted at 256, as seen in Fig. 3, is the steam exhaust system to be subsequently described. The lever 254 is pivoted at 258 and anotherlever'260 pivoted intermediately at 262 to an upstanding vertical support element 264, the lever 260 being pivoted at 266 to a vertically extending lever 268 which is pivoted at 270 to an actuating lever 272 pivotally supported at 274 on a vacuum exhaust valve 276. r The actuating lever 272 includes a transverse slot 278 connected to an actuating rod 280, and thus downward movement of the lever 268 results in downward movement of the rod 280 and actuation of the valve 276, said valve permitting communication between the exhaust pipe 282 and 284, said pipe 284 being connected to a suitable source of vacuum (not shown). The pipe 282 is connected to one side of a T connection 286 and on the opposite side thereof is connected a hose 288. To the T opening is attached one end of a pipe 290 and the other end thereof is connected to elbow 292. A second hose 294 is also attached to elbow 292 and both hoses 288 and 294 are suitably connected to the vacuum outlets 166 in the pleater plates 154 as shown in Figure 3. Bracket 264 includes a horizontal bracket 296 suitably secured thereon, see Figure 3, which supports an actuating switch 298 thereon which is actuated by treadle 252 for permitting the transmittal of electric power from a conductor 300 attached to a suitable source of electrical power, and thence to a conductor 302 suitably secured withinthe housing of the machine, being connected to the motor 48 for actuating the fan 44.

Thus, after steam has been urged into the trousers 138 for the purpose of removing wrinkles and pressing the pleats, the treadle 252 is depressed whereupon the exhaust valve 276 is opened and steam within'the pleat presser plates is exhausted and at the same time the fan 44 drives air out of the portion 46 thereof, down into the trousers 138 to inflate them into, a bag-like formation above the gripping levers 228 and thus as the steam is forced out of the trousers they dry wrinkle free. In this manner the trousers are suitably dried after being pressed about the waistband, seat and pleats, and thereafter the levers '228 are moved outwardly creasing the trouser legs, the pleat pressure plates 196 are moved upwardly and the treadle 62 is depressed whereupon the waist assembly 16 is made smaller permitting the ready removal of the trousers from the machine.

During the course of description of the structure of this machine the sequence of operation has been set forth, and accordingly the use of this apparatus is believed to be obvious.

The apparatus heretofore described is accordingly believed to fully conform to the heretofore set forth objects of invention.

Various positional directional terms such as front, rear, top, etc. are utilized herein to have only a relative connotation to aid in describing the device and are not intended to be interpreted as requiring any particular orientation with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A trouser pleat and waistband pressing machine, comprising, a support structure, waistband support means for supporting a pair of trousers at the waistband, pleater plates carried on said support structure for contacting inner portions of trouser pleats, pleat pressure plates carried by said support structure for contacting outer portions of trouser pleats and for pressing trouser pleats against the pleater plates, means for introducing pressing steam into the pleater plates and to the interior of said trouser pleats, means for exhausting steam from the pleat pressure plates and from the interiorof said trouser pleats, and means to close the bottom of the trousers legs whereby the steam will be uniformly introduced and exhausted from the trousers.

2. A trouser pleat and waistband pressing machine, comprising, a support structure, waistband support means for supporting a pair of trousers at the waistband, pleater plates having an apertured side, said pleater plates carried by said support structure for contacting inn'er portions of trouser pleats, pleat pressure plates carried by said support structure for contacting outer portions of trouser pleats and for pressing trouser pleats against the pleater plates, means for simultaneously introducing pressing steam into said pleater plates to the interior of said trousers, and means to close the bottom of the trousers legs whereby the steam will be uniformly introduced and applied to the trousers. V

3. A trouser pleat and waistband pressing machine, comprising, a support structure, waistband support means for supporting a pair of trousers at the waistband, pleater plates carried on said support structure for contacting inner portions of trouser pleats, pleat pressure plates carried by said support structure for contacting outer portions of trouser pleats and for pressing trouser pleats against the pleater plates, means for introducing pressing steam into the pleater plates and to the interior of said trouser pleats and to the interior of said trousers, blower.

means for exhausting pressing steam from the interior of said trousers, vacuum means for exhausting said steam from said pleater plates, and means to close the bottom of the trousers ,legs whereby the steam will be uniformly introduced and exhausted from the trousers.

4. In a trouser pressing machine, a support structure, pleater plates carried on said support structure for contacting inner portions of trouser pleats, pleatpressure plates carried by said support structure for contacting outer portions of trouser pleats and for pressing trouser pleats against the pleater plates, spring means for urging said pleat pressure plates into 'contact with said pleater plates at times, support means afiording relative radial adjustment between said pleater plates and between said pleat pressure plates, and means to close the bottom of the trousers legs whereby the steam will be uniformly introduced and exhausted from the trousers.

5. In a trouser pressing machine, a support structure for supporting trousers with the legs in depending position and the waist in normal position during wear by a person, a leg clamping assembly mounted'to said support structure for retaining portions of the trouser legs in a taut position, and said leg clamping assembly including clamping members adjustable to engage each leg member of a pair of trousers to' close each leg whereby said trousers above said clamping members can be inflated into a bag-like shape.

6. In a trouser pressing machine, a support structure, trouser waistband support means mounted thereon, pleater plates carried on said support structure for contacting inner portions of trouser pleats, pleat pressures plates carried by said support structure for contacting outer portions of trouser pleats and for pressing trouser pleats against the pleater plates, a leg clamping assembly mounted to said support structure for retaining portions of the trouser legs in a taut position, said leg clamping assembly including clamping members adjustable to engage each leg member of a pair of trousers to eifect a closure in each leg whereby said trousers above said clamping members can be inflated into a bag-like shape, means for introducing pressing steam into the pleater plates and to the interior of said trouser pleats, means for passing pressing steam through said pleater plates to the interior of said trousers, and means for exhausting said pressing steam from the interior of said pleats and from the interior of said trousers.

7. In a trouser pressing machine, a support structure, pleater plates carried on said support structure for contacting inner portions oftrouser pleats, pleat pressure plates carried by saidsupport structurefor contacting outer portibnsofitrouser pleats and for pressing trouser pleats against the pleater plates, and means for introducingpressing steam intosaid pleater plates to the interior ofsaid trouser pleats andthrough said pleater plates to the interior of said trousers; said means including a steam nozzle terminating within said pleater plates to discharge steam therein and having a nozzleportion disposed for directing steam out ofsaid pleater plates into the interior of-the trousers;

8. Apparatus forfinishing the upper portion of a garmentwhich is open at the top and bottom, comprising a support, means adjacent the upper portion thereof including an expansible substantially'continuousband for engaging'the inner-periphery of the top of the garment, spring means to urge said band to expanded position, pleater plates-mounted adjacent said band for engaging the portionof a garment adjacent the top, a pleater-pressure plate, means to movably'mount said pleater pressure plate with respect to said pleater plate whereby said pleater pressure plate can be moved clear of the garment for facilitating easy application of the garment to the expandable band, means toinove said pleater pressure plate into contact with a portion of the garment adjacent to and overlying said pleater plate for pressing a pleat in the adjacent portion of the garment, and means below said pleater plates to close the bottom portion of the garment whereby steam and air can be applied. Within the garment for removing wrinkles, drying the garment and-producing afinished neat appearance of the garment above the closing means.

9'. A trouser pleat and waistband pressing machine comprising a support structure, waistband support means for supporting-a pair of trousers at the waistband, pleater plate means carried: on said support structure for contacting, inner'portions of. trouser pleats, pleat pressure plates carried by said support structure for contacting the outer portions of trouser pleats and for pressing trouser pleats against the pleater plate means, means for introducing pressing steam into the pleater plate means and to the interior of the trouser pleats, means for exhausting steam from the pleater plate means and from the interior of said trouser pleats, and means within said pleater plate means for heating the steam therein.

10; Apparatus for pressing portions ofa garment comprising a pleater plate on which a portion of a garment isplaced, a pleat pressure plate cooperating with said pleater plate and adapted tO 'P1'6SS the portion of'the garment placed on said pleater plate, means to mount said pleat pressure plate, said mounting including a track 8. located adjacent said pleater plate and" out of the path of the garment during-the placement thereof on the pleater plate, a slide on said track, and spring means acting be-- tween said slide and sai'd lpl'eatpressure plate to'urge said pleat pressure plate toward said pleater plate, said pleat' pressure plate being movable completely out of the path of a garment being placed on or removedfrom said pleater plate whereby agarment may be readily appliedon said pleater plate.

1.1. Apparatus for finishing the upper portion of a- 4 which the waistband of a garment may be horizontally positioned for expanding the waistband to a taut condition, manually controlled means to contract said expandible structure, biasing means to urge said expandable structure to expanded position, and means spaced downwardly from-said expandible structure and operative to effectively close the bottom portion of the garment whereby steam and air-can be supplied within the garment for removing wrinkles, drying the garment'and' producing a finished neat appearance to the garment above the closing means.

12. The method of finishing a garment comprising placing the open end of a vertically disposed garment having a continuous upper periphery with such continuous upper; periphery surrounding a collapsed band supporting structure which is biased to expanded position, allowing the bias of'such' band supporting structure to expand said band supporting structure into intimate supporting contact with the inner periphery of said garment so the garment is suspended in natural position, closing the lower portion of the garment while hanging in its natural position, applying gaseousvapor to said garment and thereafter applying a drying gaseous fluid to the. garment.

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